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Article

From Waste to Health: Landfill Biogas Recovery as a Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Public Health Co-Benefits in Brazil

by
Estefane Caetano Nazzari
1,
Gredson Keiff Souza
2,
Fernanda Nayara Campos de Almeida
1,
Anderson Rafael Igarashi
1,
Alexandre Diorio
1,
Djeine Cristina Schiavon Maia
1,* and
Nehemias Curvelo Pereira
1
1
Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of Maringa, 5790, Colombo av., Building D90, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil
2
Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Rua Josué de Castro, s/n, Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(5), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050648
Submission received: 6 April 2026 / Revised: 2 May 2026 / Accepted: 11 May 2026 / Published: 13 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Sector Pollution and Health Promotion)

Abstract

Biogas from municipal solid waste is a promising pathway for renewable energy production while mitigating environmental pollution and public health risks. In this study, biogas emissions from a sanitary landfill in Maringá, southern Brazil, were evaluated using three models (IPCC, LandGEM, and CETESB tool) to estimate methane generation and energy recovery potential. Experimental analysis revealed methane concentrations from 51.10 ± 8.89% to 57.06 ± 1.19% across collection drains, indicating favorable conditions for energy utilization. Methane generation was estimated under different scenarios, reaching up to 1.30 × 104 tonnes of CH4, with peak production projected over 25–26 years depending on the model. Beyond energetic relevance, controlled biogas recovery can substantially reduce methane emissions, a key precursor of tropospheric ozone, and limit hazardous trace gas release, improving air quality and reducing population exposure to harmful pollutants. These findings are particularly relevant in developing countries, where insufficient waste management infrastructure leads to uncontrolled emissions, posing elevated environmental and health risks. This study supports integrating landfill biogas recovery into waste management and climate strategies, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy (SDG 7), climate action (SDG 13), and health (SDG 3), demonstrating it as a scalable solution for sustainable urban development.
Keywords: biogas; green energy; landfill; methane; waste-to-energy biogas; green energy; landfill; methane; waste-to-energy
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Nazzari, E.C.; Souza, G.K.; de Almeida, F.N.C.; Igarashi, A.R.; Diorio, A.; Maia, D.C.S.; Pereira, N.C. From Waste to Health: Landfill Biogas Recovery as a Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Public Health Co-Benefits in Brazil. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23, 648. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050648

AMA Style

Nazzari EC, Souza GK, de Almeida FNC, Igarashi AR, Diorio A, Maia DCS, Pereira NC. From Waste to Health: Landfill Biogas Recovery as a Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Public Health Co-Benefits in Brazil. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(5):648. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050648

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nazzari, Estefane Caetano, Gredson Keiff Souza, Fernanda Nayara Campos de Almeida, Anderson Rafael Igarashi, Alexandre Diorio, Djeine Cristina Schiavon Maia, and Nehemias Curvelo Pereira. 2026. "From Waste to Health: Landfill Biogas Recovery as a Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Public Health Co-Benefits in Brazil" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23, no. 5: 648. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050648

APA Style

Nazzari, E. C., Souza, G. K., de Almeida, F. N. C., Igarashi, A. R., Diorio, A., Maia, D. C. S., & Pereira, N. C. (2026). From Waste to Health: Landfill Biogas Recovery as a Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Public Health Co-Benefits in Brazil. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(5), 648. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050648

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